Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe

[JCSunsfan]

Knight, so far this season, after 8 games:

20.3 ppg, 39% from 3, 50% from 2, 4.4 assts. 4 rebs, 84% from the line, 3.1 turnovers, better than average defense.

The only thing there that displeases me is that I would like to see fewer turnovers. 3.1 is not bad for a ball-handling pg, but Knight plays the 2 most often.

Bledsoe, after 8 games:

22.4 ppg, 36% from 3, 51% from 2, 6.5 assts, 4.1 rebs, 78% from the line, 3.5 turnovers, with excellent defense.

Nothing to complain about here. The Suns have NEVER a pg as well-rounded as Bledsoe. KJ, could play D when he decided to, but he did not do it on the consistent basis Bledsoe does. He has taken it to another level.

At this point, its hard to argue that the two pg offense is not working. If this team has a problem, its on the front line, in particular the two starting forward positions and the backup center position.

 

[ProdigalSun]

Knight and Bledsoe have also been shooting it better from the perimeter recently as well which makes it very difficult to guard them as we already know they both have the quickness to get to the hole

 

[Cheesebeef]

Knight, so far this season, after 8 games:

20.3 ppg, 39% from 3, 50% from 2, 4.4 assts. 4 rebs, 84% from the line, 3.1 turnovers, better than average defense.

The only thing there that displeases me is that I would like to see fewer turnovers. 3.1 is not bad for a ball-handling pg, but Knight plays the 2 most often.

Bledsoe, after 8 games:

22.4 ppg, 36% from 3, 51% from 2, 6.5 assts, 4.1 rebs, 78% from the line, 3.5 turnovers, with excellent defense.

Nothing to complain about here. The Suns have NEVER a pg as well-rounded as Bledsoe. KJ, could play D when he decided to, but he did not do it on the consistent basis Bledsoe does. He has taken it to another level.

At this point, its hard to argue that the two pg offense is not working. If this team has a problem, its on the front line, in particular the two starting forward positions and the backup center position.

I think Knight would be a great 6th man and Booker would make the perfect #2 next to Bledsoe eventually. That's my long-term hope with this team.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think Knight would be a great 6th man and Booker would make the perfect #2 next to Bledsoe eventually. That's my long-term hope with this team.

Same here.

Both Bledsoe and Knight have played a lot better this season and Bledsoe especially could be on the rise to stardom but still they both need to improve their turnover to assist ratio, it's pretty bad.

We among the worst in the league at turning the ball over, it just puts yourself at a disadvantage offensively and defensively since many of them are live ball turnovers.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Bledsoe is the #4 pg in the league in scoring right now behind Curry, Lillard, and Westbrook. Among pg's he is also 11th in assists, 5th in steals, 4th in fg% (better than Westbrook and Lillard).

Knight is the #7 pg in scoring with Reggie Jackson and Isaiah Thomas between him and Bledsoe.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think Knight would be a great 6th man and Booker would make the perfect #2 next to Bledsoe eventually. That's my long-term hope with this team.

I had a lot higher hopes for Knight once we acquired him last year and he's been a big disappointment. I understand there was no rush to get him back last season since the playoffs were basically impossible after the team was blown up at the deadline but he took his time coming back which worried me just because I knew he'd get a deal similar to Bledsoe's and that's a lot to invest in an unproven backcourt tandem. He's playing a lot like Bledsoe last year also as far as having a good game then a so-so game and repeat.

It depends on how high the cap goes but I would be disappointed if Knight ends up being the 6th man with Booker starting alongside Bledsoe. I'd rather Knight and Markieff get shipped off this year for an upgrade at Power Forward. If or when Morris is traded we'll need to get a big in return and I think most fans would rather see an established big come back in return so we don't regress in our rebuild again. Markieff won't fetch an upgrade at PF, maybe a young PF with upside but that won't do much this season. Teletovic has been a big disappointment also and he should stay buried on the bench.

Adding depth to a line-up like below would be easier in the draft or offseason to compete for the playoffs.

Chandler/Len
???/Leuer
PJ/TJ/Weems
Booker/Goodwin/Weems
Bledsoe/Price

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm not saying to trade Knight with Markieff just to trade him, ideally him and Bledsoe get things working well together but if they have the opportunity to upgrade the 4 spot with an All-Star or borderline All-Star for those 2 plus some other filler or picks would be really nice.

 

[JS22]

I had a lot higher hopes for Knight once we acquired him last year and he's been a big disappointment.

Yeah me too. His 20 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds a game don't impress me at all. I don't even care that he has basically only had one training camp to get used to playing alongside Bledsoe, as well as find his role on this team. And that he's already 23 years old. That doesn't leave much room, if any, for improvement.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yeah me too. His 20 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds a game don't impress me at all. I don't even care that he has basically only had one training camp to get used to playing alongside Bledsoe, as well as find his role on this team. And that he's already 23 years old. That doesn't leave much room, if any, for improvement.

Yup. He should be averaging at least 25 a game and dropping 10 dimes or so. And it's taken him way too long. I will accept no excuses like a gimpy ankle or anything. Just suck it up and play on crutches. That's what real men do.

 

[Hoop Head]

You guys are over reacting to what I said. I expected him to be more of a SG than he is. That was the knock he had in Detroit and Milwaukee but here he has shown that he's a combo guard really, not a PG and not a SG, which is fine. If he played more like he did with the Bucks then I'd be more than ok with him. He was a spot up shooter and also a leader on that team and here he hasn't shown that leadership really at all. He may be just 23 but he has 4 seasons experience in the league pretty much exclusively as a starter. He definitely played more minutes and games than Bledsoe when he first came here and he seems like he's behind where Eric was when he first became a Sun.

He's played in 276 games in his first 4 years and started 265 of them while averaging 32 mpg.

 

[sunsfan88]

You guys are over reacting to what I said. I expected him to be more of a SG than he is. That was the knock he had in Detroit and Milwaukee but here he has shown that he's a combo guard really, not a PG and not a SG, which is fine. If he played more like he did with the Bucks then I'd be more than ok with him. He was a spot up shooter and also a leader on that team and here he hasn't shown that leadership really at all. He may be just 23 but he has 4 seasons experience in the league pretty much exclusively as a starter. He definitely played more minutes and games than Bledsoe when he first came here and he seems like he's behind where Eric was when he first became a Sun.

He's played in 276 games in his first 4 years and started 265 of them while averaging 32 mpg.

Its beyond annoying that more people don't realize this. Being young doesn't mean you have so much potential left if you've been in the NBA for so damn long already. 4 years is A LOT. They say in any sport, you should know by players 3rd year about whether or not their gonna be good, and this Knight's 5th year already. Quit with this lame 23 years old excuse without looking at how many years he's already had and how many minutes he's already played in the NBA.

He's looked better this season but he dribbles the ball like jr high kids do...looking at the ground.

Also this article highlights why there's so much skepticism around Knight,

http://arizonasports.com/story/447673/examining-the-shot-selection-of-brandon-knight/

^he's hurting the team more than helping them with that crap. And that's an issue he had in Milwaukee and Detroit as well which is why their fans were thrilled when he was traded.

His shot selection hasn't improved one bit since coming to Phoenix. He has the ability to be an elite shooter but he'll fulfill that with his terrible shot selections and the number of training camps he's taken part in with the Suns doesn't change that.

For the Suns sake, lets hope his game against the Clippers JV guards isn't an anomaly and that he can do it against NBA caliber starters. Consistency is what's key for Knight.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You guys are over reacting to what I said. I expected him to be more of a SG than he is. That was the knock he had in Detroit and Milwaukee but here he has shown that he's a combo guard really, not a PG and not a SG, which is fine. If he played more like he did with the Bucks then I'd be more than ok with him. He was a spot up shooter and also a leader on that team and here he hasn't shown that leadership really at all. He may be just 23 but he has 4 seasons experience in the league pretty much exclusively as a starter. He definitely played more minutes and games than Bledsoe when he first came here and he seems like he's behind where Eric was when he first became a Sun.

He's played in 276 games in his first 4 years and started 265 of them while averaging 32 mpg.

That's because he is not only not being asked to be the leader, the leadership roles are clearly being filled by Bledsoe and Chandler. He is not being asked to be a spot up shooter here. He is being asked to be a sg at times and a pg at times. And he has hardly played here enough to know whether he is ahead or behind where Eric was when he got here, but I am not sure how that should be any sort of standard.

 

[JS22]

You guys are over reacting to what I said. I expected him to be more of a SG than he is. That was the knock he had in Detroit and Milwaukee but here he has shown that he's a combo guard really, not a PG and not a SG, which is fine. If he played more like he did with the Bucks then I'd be more than ok with him. He was a spot up shooter and also a leader on that team and here he hasn't shown that leadership really at all. He may be just 23 but he has 4 seasons experience in the league pretty much exclusively as a starter. He definitely played more minutes and games than Bledsoe when he first came here and he seems like he's behind where Eric was when he first became a Sun.

He's played in 276 games in his first 4 years and started 265 of them while averaging 32 mpg.

I was being a little sarcastic.

I just think he's still getting comfortable and has the chance to keep improving. Which, IMO, is pretty great considering he's already playing fairly well. The alternative was making Dragic the focal point and paying him what Maimi is paying. Suns dodged a huge bullet there.

I know some people still want that Lakers pick. But I'm sure 9 out of 10, if told that they could have a potential lottery pick OR an unnamed 23 year old guard putting up 20/4/4, would take the "sure" thing. (Knight isn't a sure thing yet, but he's already show to have talent and is still really young.)

 

[JCSunsfan]

I was being a little sarcastic.

I just think he's still getting comfortable and has the chance to keep improving. Which, IMO, is pretty great considering he's already playing fairly well. The alternative was making Dragic the focal point and paying him what Maimi is paying. Suns dodged a huge bullet there.

I know some people still want that Lakers pick. But I'm sure 9 out of 10, if told that they could have a potential lottery pick OR an unnamed 23 year old guard putting up 20/4/4, would take the "sure" thing. (Knight isn't a sure thing yet, but he's already show to have talent and is still really young.)

I will admit this. It seems that the Bledsoe/Knight combo might be better than the Bledsoe/Dragic combo.

1. Production per contract $ is better.
2. Production overall might be better.
3. They are a happier unit playing together.
4. Knight is a better defensive player than Goran.

I would not have said this until the last week or so.

 

[SirStefan32]

I will admit this. It seems that the Bledsoe/Knight combo might be better than the Bledsoe/Dragic combo.

1. Production per contract $ is better.
2. Production overall might be better.
3. They are a happier unit playing together.
4. Knight is a better defensive player than Goran.

I would not have said this until the last week or so.

Yeah, Knight seems to not be clueless off the ball, which was the main issue with Dragic (and still is in Miami). Bledsoe looks more like an actual point guard this year, and Knight seems to be OK off the ball.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yeah, Knight seems to not be clueless off the ball, which was the main issue with Dragic (and still is in Miami). Bledsoe looks more like an actual point guard this year, and Knight seems to be OK off the ball.

Just looked at Dragic's stats... 10/4/3. WOW. I never thought he was a great player, but he should be MUCH better than that. I mean, those numbers... at 18 million per are beyond atrocious.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Just looked at Dragic's stats... 10/4/3. WOW. I never thought he was a great player, but he should be MUCH better than that. I mean, those numbers... at 18 million per are beyond atrocious.

Something is wrong in Miami. Coaching, system, injury, something.

I do know that Goran's numbers were better without Bledsoe on the floor. He was a one man fast break and at least dominated that part of the game.

 

[Chaz]

I am very happy with these two so far. Knight clearly has room for improvement in the turnover department.
More so than the offense I am really excited about the defensive potential. They are doing a great job denying passes back to the opposing guards disrupting their offense and getting deflections for steals.

 

[hcsilla]

I honestly hope that Brandon Knight keeps up the shooting percentages that he jumped on with his hot hand vs. the Clippers and then we can sell him at the trade deadline for a true rebuilding core player like Porzingis (seems to be).

I kind a like him but don't really think that a team can reach too much with Knight being its 2nd best player and lacking of a superstar.

 

[GatorAZ]

I honestly hope that Brandon Knight keeps up the shooting percentages that he jumped on with his hot hand vs. the Clippers and then we can sell him at the trade deadline for a true rebuilding core player like Porzingis (seems to be).

I kind a like him but don't really think that a team can reach too much with Knight being its 2nd best player and lacking of a superstar.

Phil Jackson should be fired on the spot if he does that lol.

 

[Catlover]

Phil Jackson should be fired on the spot if he does that lol.

Fired or shot? I like Knight on this team and think he can be a pretty good complement to Bledsoe but Porzingis is looking like a franchise player in the making. Nobody makes that deal.

 

[Phrazbit]

If we had better shooters I think Bledsoe would be putting up some really good assist numbers so far this year. He has shown some real craftiness with the ball.

 

[JS22]

Of course Knight is is making me look bad tonight.

But damn, Bledsoe seems to have found the next level this season.

 

[BC867]

Of course Knight is is making me look bad tonight.

But damn, Bledsoe seems to have found the next level this season.

Knight abandoned the goose eggs in the 3rd quarter. The first quarter probably reflected how hot Bledsoe has been.

 

[bwgood77]

I was being a little sarcastic.

I just think he's still getting comfortable and has the chance to keep improving. Which, IMO, is pretty great considering he's already playing fairly well. The alternative was making Dragic the focal point and paying him what Maimi is paying. Suns dodged a huge bullet there.

I know some people still want that Lakers pick. But I'm sure 9 out of 10, if told that they could have a potential lottery pick OR an unnamed 23 year old guard putting up 20/4/4, would take the "sure" thing. (Knight isn't a sure thing yet, but he's already show to have talent and is still really young.)

When I first read that I thought it sounds like he's being sarcastic but I couldn't completely tell. You were throwing out good numbers, pointing out he is young, etc, right after his output against the Clippers, and saying these things are bad.